The bank’s purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 49.1 this month, its highest level in three months. Aided by an increase in new orders, the figure is the latest in a long line to suggest an improvement in fortunes for the world’s second biggest economy.

In a move that further demonstrates how agricultural companies have increasingly become takeover targets as a result of rising demand for food from emerging markets, ADM has offered $2.77 billion to acquire the business.

Reacting to the news, analysts believe the move signals ADM’s determination to break into fast growing Asian markets. Some however have been quick to point out that ADM could face competing bids for GrainCorp.

A joint venture between BP and a group of Russian billionaires, represented by the Alfa-Access-Renova consortium, TNK-BP is currently recognised as the country’s third-largest oil producer in terms of reserves and crude oil production. BP’s stake in TNK-BP is believed to be worth between $25 billion and $28 billion. It is thought that, as part of any deal, BP would receive a stake of up to 20 percent in Rosneft.

New research from Ricoh reveals 79 percent are unable to maximise technology.

Ageing back office legacy systems are holding back 79 percent of European businesses from fully streamlining their business critical document processes, according to new research published this week by Ricoh Europe.

Owned by the Tata Group, IHC is India’s biggest hotel operator. The offer for Orient-Express stands at $12.63 per share for the 93 percent of the US-listed company that it does not already own. This represents a 40 percent premium on Orient-Express’ closing price on Wednesday.

Investment in field service management technology can help streamline business processes, leading to long-term efficiency, profitability and customer retention.

Technology development can often outpace an organisation’s ability to harness its opportunities. The stage is set for the digital director.

The global technology research and advisory firm Forrester faced a dilemma of unknown proportions back in August 2009 when one of its key strategists, Jeremiah Owyang, left the company for pastures new. While movement of people is a natural and regular occurrence for a business, when Owyang left Forrester he took with him his digital identity.

Experiencing 11.6 percent unemployment, young women in the US overwhelmingly favor lower taxes and less government spending to help job creation.

Generation Opportunity, the largest non-profit, non-partisan organization in the United States engaging and mobilizing young Americans (ages 18-29) on the important economic issues facing the nation, released new polling data today on young women (18-29) as the 2012 presidential election nears.

The last month of the quarter in particular brought with it an acceleration in industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment, highlighting that the momentum of the economy was especially strong in September.

Key economic indicators released on the same day show that China’s industrial production rose by 9.2 percent in September from a year earlier. Retail sales during the same month were 14.2 percent higher, signalling that domestic consumption is on the rise.